Simplifying the Conductors Lifestyle

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Simplifying the Conductors Lifestyle

• Making Technology Work For You

Dr. Philip L. Copeland July 1, 2005 Alabama ACDA
State Convention Birmingham, Alabama
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Our Busy Lives

• Our jobs are complicated
• More than one complicated job
• Organize tours
• Family Responsibilities
• A Social Life?

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My Story

• Director of Choral Activities, The University of
  Alabama at Birmingham
• Director of Music Ministry, South Highland
  Presbyterian Church
• Husband to Leigh

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A New Life
Caroline
Catherine
Claire
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We all lead busy lives!

• How can technology make our lives easier?

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Purpose of this Session

• Use technology to
• Simplify your life
• Give you new ways of working
• Aid choral profession
• Enrich your teaching

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Disclaimers!

• I am not a role model for either organization or
  efficiency
• I am no technological guru

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Some Philosophical Beginnings

• Either your head is the place to hold something
  or it's not

• Use an organizational system that is superior to
  your mind

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Future Definition of Literacy

• In the coming century, the ability to identify,
  access, apply and create information will be the
  equivalent of literacy.
• --Bailey/Lumley (1999)

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Using a System Superior to your Mind
Tools to Manage OurselvesThe Personal Digital
Assistant
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Standard Information
Calendar
Contacts
Task List
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• Its not just the information that you take with
  you that is important . . .
• there are many times when you need to securely
  record information where you are.

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Creating information text input options
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Making the most of email
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Using email effectively

• Millions of people use email but most dont use
  it effectively.
• Microsoft Outlook and the Pocket PC allow you to
  convert email to contacts, tasks, and
  appointments.

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Creating appointments, contacts, and tasks from
email
Make contacts
Make appointments
Make tasks
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The beauty of synchronization
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In My Opinion The Top PDA Features

• PIM features Calendar, Contacts, Task list,
  Notes, Calculator
• Instant On
• Portability of important information
• Text input options
• Seamless integration with MS Outlook

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Web Sites Good for What?

• Documents and information
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Teaching Aids and Materials
• Textual and Musical tools for choir

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Frequently Needed Information

• Common Creations
• Class Syllabus
• Professional Biography
• Handbooks
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Directions to my office
• Audition Information
• Specifics of Auditions

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Online learning Text and Diction

• Poetry
• Write out the text in poetic form
• Links to author of texts
• Find discussions about the poetry online
• Language
• Translation of foreign language
• Diction modules find or create mp3 files of
  text said correctly

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Creating Diction Modules

• WavePad (free!)
• Microphone (6.99)
• Plug in Microphone
• Hit record
• And record the text
• Placing spaces after certain words is very easy

This is the Record button!
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Benefits of Diction Modules

• Easy to create
• Easy to distribute (via web page or email)
• Removes fear of performing works in a foreign
  language
• Opens new worlds of literature for you
• Placing it online benefits the entire choral
  profession

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Online learning Musical Needs

• Page linking you to individual music
• Score markings
• Link to midi files already on web (Silvis
  Woodshed)
• Link to mp3 performances of choral work
• Link to where recordings of music can be
  purchased

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Blogging Basics

• Blog Weblog, or personal journal
• Why are they important
• Immediate publishing of ideas
• Dynamic and interactive medium
• Active participant rather than passive consumer
• Its quite often free and very accessible

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Anatomy of a blog http//uabchoirs.blogspot.com/
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Blogging Benefits for Choirs

• Exciting medium of communication
• Effective means of giving rehearsal feedback
• Feedback on performances
• Elicit student comments
• Communicate praise or important news from others
• Communicate other info passports, dress
  choices, performance directions

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More benefits

• Feature choir members achievements
• Congratulate other ensembles
• Opinion gathering device
• Share incidents not having to do with choir
  community events, radio shows, movies, pictures
• Keeping in touch with alumni and former members

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A few more benefits

• Document your progress
• Translations of current works
• Recruiting opportunity!
• Build community
• Interact with conductor outside of class

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Blogging What you need to remember

• Easy
• FREE
• Very Beneficial
• Accessible Created from any computer or PDA
  with internet access
• Read Worldwide

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The Tablet PC
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Live Demonstration

• Introduction
• Mine Toshiba R-15 (1499)
• Demonstration of Text in Microsoft OneNote
• Marking Music with Tablet PC
• Recording Audio with Tablet PC
• Editing documents with Tablet PC

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MindMapping

• Introduction
• Benefits
• Uses
• Examples of my MindMaps
• Coordination with Tablet PC

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Aiding the choral profession

• Share your work online with others
• Go the extra mile publish the work you do
  online
• Texts to choral works
• Translations
• Learning modules
• Lead the national conversation
• Opportunity in the blogging world for someone to
  become the national voice of choral music
• Who we are and where we are going

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Summary of Presentation

• Technology can help simplify life
• Managing who you are Personal Digital Assistant
  
• Managing what you do Choir Web pages
• Enhancing your teaching with blogging
• What you do online benefits the entire choral
  community

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Resources available online

• Entire presentation is on my website
• Presentation notes, speech text, session handout,
  website with links to supplemental information
• Website and blog address is on my one-page
  handout available at back of room
• Or give me your email address, Ill send you the
  link

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Final thoughts

• With a little thought, a little money, and a
  little planning,
• you can institute small changes into your life
• that pay off in tremendous rewards
  professionally, creatively, and personally.
• Becoming increasingly familiar with technological
  possibilities
• can enhance your teaching
• and enrich the entire choral community.

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Simplifying the Conductors Lifestyle

• Making Technology Work For You

Dr. Philip L. Copeland February 2, 2005 ACDA
National Convention Los Angeles, California